Outdoor Dining Set Make-over

A free gift - hurray!!!

But in desperate need of a makeover.

I bought these reversible chair cushions after weeks of shopping around.

I love the vibrant floral pattern with pops of red, orange, different blues and purple.

But it's nice to have the quieter, dignified stripes as an alternative too.

 Now to select the spray paint color...

 Table choices:

 

 I am really not sure which direction to go, and I'd love your input.

FYI, I like bold and daring, trying something fresh and new.

But I don't want to go psychedelic tacky and have an eyesore in the backyard.

Which paint colors do you like for the outdoor dining set???

Challenge #6: Avant Garde

Fashions inspired by Art and Color Palettes from Design Seeds, presenting the Avant Garde Challenge :

Avant Garde

Avant Garde =
Unorthodox. 
Radical. 
Daring. 
Innovative. 
Experimental.  
Advanced Ideas and Techniques.

In the most recent episode of Project Runway, the designers had to create an art piece with students and design an Avant Garde outfit based on the artwork. Since these home challenges are modified to be doable in a week's time with no budget and no sewing, my idea is to choose a picture or color palette on Design Seeds, a fantastic site with inspirational images and color schemes. Come up with an Avant Garde look influenced by the specific palette you choose. E-mail me both pictures of your outfit and the name of the color palette you used to Mikibaxter@hotmail.com by next Wednesday.  

This will definitely be a "Think Outside The Box/Reinvent The Box" kind of challenge - how exciting!

FYI, some photography and styling tips:

• Taking your pictures outdoors does generally improve the quality of your photographs, just watch out for strong sun and shadows.  
• Shoot a series of photos and vary your expression and poses.  Often, the first few are tentative.  But as you adjust your head and body and relax, the pictures get better and better!
• Styling plays a big part in the success of an outfit too - play with accessories (think Piperlime wall!), make-up (L'Oreal Paris!), and hair (Garnier Hair Studio!)

Though photography is my main passion, I have also worked professionally as a stylist, make-up artist and model.  I'll be adding more tips and ideas as the challenges progress!  

Please join us for these weekly challenges!!!

Challenge #5: Sneaker Chic

Challenge #5 of our weekly Project Runway Inspired Home Challenges is to create sporty, fashionable looks to complement sneakers.

Presenting...chic looks for sneakers:

A layered ruffle halter with track pants with/without a cardigan.

My favorite part of this tank top is the lace detail on the back,

so I wear it backwards to showcase it. 

Brown suede skirt with a tie-dyed top.

A new episode of Project Runway tonight - 

join us for the next Project Runway Inspired Challenge!

Sneaker Chic

Last night's challenge on Project Runway was to create sporty but fashionable looks to complement a new line of sneakers. 

Key words from the episode:
Basic with a twist
Denim and leather or suede
Think fashion
Sporty chic
Not too dressy - has to be worn with sneakers
Modern

Our Project Runway Inspired Challenge for this week, "Sneaker Chic," is to come up with one look that fits the criteria listed above. All pictures are due by next Wednesday, e-mailed to me at Mikibaxter@hotmail.com.

Challenge #4: Don't. Bore. Nina.

"classic with an edge, 

streamlined, clean, 

a tailored silhouette"

The description of this Project Runway Inspired challenge.

It's interesting that we all came up with black and beige elements -

definitely classic!

Look #1

Look #2

She even had "Nina" shoes!!!

Look #3

Look #4

(Because I can't leave well enough alone and do an all beige/black post!)

Don't. Bore. Nina.

In last night's Project Runway episode,

the designers had to create something for Nina Garcia,

who is a judge on the show and also fashion director for Marie Claire magazine.

The look she wanted was 

"classic with an edge, 

streamlined, clean, a tailored silhouette."

For this next Project Runway Inspired Challenge,

I think we're going to take it a little "The Devil Wears Prada"

 and create a look as if we worked in the fashion industry.

Fashion forward.

Stylish.

Classic with an edge.

Please e-mail me your photo submissions with a description to

Mikibaxter@hotmail.com by Wednesday!